Sphericalize

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To shape or form something into a sphere or circular object
2. to convert an object or figure into a three-dimensional spherical form
3. to modify an existing geometric shape to exhibit spherical characteristics

Etymology: "Sphericalize" is a plain English formation: the noun "spherical" (from Late Latin "sphaericus," from Greek "sphairikos," itself from "sphaira," ball) plus the verb-forming suffix "-ize," which comes from Greek "-izein" and was used to turn adjectives and nouns into verbs meaning "to make into" or "to cause to become." Combining the two gives a verb meaning "to make something spherical." The word is a technical coinage rather than an old one. It belongs to the vocabulary of mathematics, geometry, and engineering, where people often need to describe reshaping an object so it approximates a sphere.

Synonyms: round, make spherical, globularize, ball up, curve

Antonyms: flatten, square, elongate, distort, deform